US FCC expands import ban to older Huawei, ZTE gear

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has expanded its import ban to include older equipment models from Chinese manufacturers Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua. The new rules, finalized late last week, will take effect next month, extending a 2022 ban that previously covered only new telecommunications and video surveillance gear. The FCC cited national security risks, stating that legacy systems "continue to pose an unacceptable risk to national security." American businesses using already-purchased equipment will not be immediately affected. Hikvision, a major video surveillance supplier, said it "strongly opposes" the move, calling it politically motivated and lacking statutory authority. Paul Haswell, a partner at law firm Hill Dickinson, described the decision as an extension of the tech and geopolitical status quo in US-China relations. In December, the FCC also banned imports of new Chinese drones, including those from DJI.